Hip hop music production has always thrived on creativity and innovation, often driven by vintage hardware pieces like the Akai S900, S950, MPCs, S20, and E-mu SP 1200 were not just essential to Boom Bap and Lofi hip-hop, but they also defined the sound of many pioneering hip-hop producers.
These samplers and drum machines were responsible for gritty, punchy beats with lots of warmth and depth; however, they were limited in functionality, which for many added to their charm, but they weren’t cheap.
The Akai S20 was priced at $599, making it an affordable entry-level option.
A flagship Akai MPC 3000 cost around $3,500, while the Akai S900 and its successor, the S950, retailed for about $2,500. The E-mu SP-1200 originally cost $2,745.
Keep in mind, these were just samplers; most didn’t come with stock sounds.
Despite their high price tag, these samplers were a must for hip-hop music producers.
Today, affordable software emulations like the RX1200 and RX950 bring these classic sounds to your DAW without breaking the bank.
Download RX1200 and RX950 Here
What Made the SP-1200 Special?
The SP-1200 stood out for its 12-bit sampling, contributing to its warm and crunchy sound. Its limited sample time (10 seconds) pushed producers to get creative.
To maximize this limited time, Boom Bap Producers like Pete Rock would sample at a higher pitch and then use the pitch shifting feature to lower it back down, adding even more grittiness that became a hallmark of hip hop production.
This low-resolution sampling added character by reducing the fidelity of the audio, giving samples a unique crunch that blended perfectly with the raw, energetic style of hip hop.
The SP-1200’s limitations, which could have been seen as weaknesses, actually became its strengths. They encouraged innovative techniques that defined an era’s sound.
Pete Rock Making Beats On The SP 1200
Forgive the grainy look, but this is old compressed and who knows how many stages of recompression of The Pete Rock-U-Mentary.
RX1200/950 Plugin Overview
In this video overview, Matt shows the RX bundle, which includes both RX1200 and RX950 (plugins).
A few words about the RX950, just incase you don’t have time to watch the full video
Input Gain Knob
Pushing the gain adds saturation to your drum samples (any sample), making them stand out more.
Audio Bandwidth Knob
You can choose from 3 kHz, 4.67 kHz, 7.01 kHz, 9.35 kHz, 12.46 kHz, 15.68 kHz, and 19.2 kHz.
The higher the bandwidth, the cleaner, and crisper the overall sound. Lowering a sample’s bandwidth emulates the original unit’s organic warm and lofi -ish feel.
RX1200 and RX950: Specifications and Features
RX1200 Features:
- 12-bit Sampling: Emulates the SP 1200’s grit.
- Variable Sample Rates: For different tonal qualities.
- 32 Sample Slots: Extensive storage for your samples.
- 4-pole Resonant Filter: Adds warmth and depth.
- Sample Length: Flexibility for longer samples.
- Chromatic Play Mode: Allows musical note mapping.
- Presets and Samples: 50 presets/900+ samples.
- Tune, Decay, and Mix Controls: Adjust pitch, release, and volume.
- Keyboard Mapping: Makes programming/triggering samples easier.
RX950 Features:
Audio Bandwidth: Tailor the sound for different textures.
Low-pass Filter: Original low pass butterworth filter
Brilliance Setting: Add high end and clarity to samples
Stereo/Mono: Adjust mono and stereo spread
Input Gain: Adds warmth and saturation and grit to samples
Output: Maintain levels
RX1200 Drag and Drop Sample Support
The Real SP-1200 didn’t have this feature, of course, but this is easily one of my favorite features on samplers.
If the sampler plugin doesn’t have drag-and-drop, ditch it!
RX1200 allowing users to expand beyond the factory presets by dragging and dropping their own samples shows that they are in tune with the music production community.
They understand our needs!
RX1200 Supports Many Audio Formats
Whatever you’re planning on throwing, the RX1200 sampler can handle it!
| Media Format | Meaning Of Format |
|---|---|
| WAV | Microsoft WAV |
| AIFF | Apple AIFF |
| FLAC | Free Lossless Audio Codec |
| MP3 | MPEG-1 Audio Layer III |
| OGG | Ogg Vorbis |
| M4A | AAC and Apple Lossless |
| AU | Sun Microsystems AU |
| SND | Apple SND |
| W64 | Sony Wave64 Audio Format |
| WV | WavPack Hybrid Lossless Compression |
| PCM | Raw audio, little endian |
Comparison of Boom Bap Hip Hop and Lo-Fi Hip Hop
This section displays some of the differences between Boom Bap and Lo Fi such as; beat structures, sample sources, production tools, pioneering artists, songs, and the equipment used by music producers.
| Aspect | Boom Bap Hip Hop | Lo-Fi Hip Hop |
|---|---|---|
| Origins and Era | Late 1980s and early 1990s, East Coast, New York | 2010s, gained popularity on YouTube and SoundCloud |
| Beat Structure | Hard-hitting drum patterns, breakbeats, “boom” and “bap” sounds | Mellow beats, slower tempos, relaxed vibe |
| Instrument and Sound Character | Heavy sampling from jazz, funk, soul records; gritty and raw with vinyl crackle and analog warmth | Uses Jazz samples, ambient sounds, field recordings; effects like vinyl crackle, tape hiss, low-pass filters |
| Production Hardware/Software | Hardware samplers like Akai MPC series, SP-1200; gritty, raw production quality | DAWs and software like Ableton Live, FL Studio and BandLab |
| Artists | KRS-One, Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, Gang Starr | Nujabes, J Dilla, Tomppabeats, Idealism |
| Songs | “The World Is Yours” by Nas, “C.R.E.A.M.” by Wu-Tang Clan | “Feather” by Nujabes, “Flowers” by Tomppabeats |
| Producers and Gear Used | DJ Premier (MPC 60), Pete Rock (SP-1200/MPC 2000 XL), RZA (SP-1200) | J Dilla (Akai MPC 3000), Nujabes (MPC 2000/2500), Tomppabeats (Ableton Live) |
Both genres are great and fun to make, but they differ in how the sounds are processed and sit in the mix.
For an example
The drum work in Boom Bap hits hard (up front in your face). Drums and samples are taken from vinyl records, re-compressed, and processed through hardware units for saturation so they stand out.
It’s all about having the edge and grit when it comes to Boom Bap.
Lo-Fi Hip-Hop can use the same sample sources as Boom Bap, but it sounds more mellow. You’ll hear more soft sounds and field recordings.
Beats Made With the RX1200 and RX950
Conclusion
$20.00 for both plugins…You can’t beat this price. If you are looking to get that vintage sound the S950 and the 1200 offered, these two plugins will allow you to get the job done.
Also, be sure to check out other deals on sounds and synths at https://audioplugin.deals/shop/
New To Audio Plugin Deals?
Are you new to the site? How do all the sales, discounts, and deals work? Not a problem.
Here’s everything you need to know about acquiring discounts and other exclusive deals → https://audioplugin.deals/how-it-works/
RX1200 and RX950 FAQ
1. What is Chromatic Mode in the RX1200?
Chromatic Mode allows you to play a melody from a single pad. Think of having a horn sample on 1 pad and needing to create a melody from it vs triggering it like a single drum sound.
Its very similar to the 16 level mode in an MPC for those who are familiar with the function.
2. Can I Load MP3s Into The RX1200?
Yes, you can drag and drop MP3s, Wavs, AIFF, FLAC, OGG, M4A, there’s a lot of flexibility with the RX1200 sample.
3. What Are The Differences Between The RX1200 and the Original SP-1200?
The RX1200 is a software plugin that emulates look and and character of the SP-1200 while adding more sampling time, stereo/mono capability, but does not have it’s own sequencer.
4. How Does the RX950 Work Together The RX1200?
Use the RX1200 to load and trigger samples, you can also do some tweaking and filter here. Use the RX950 plugin as a filter box to further process the sound.
